Flint launches PolarTek laminating white in North America

The new product will reduce the number of white inks that a printer will need, the company says.

12.01.09

Flint Group North America Packaging has released its newest universal flexo white laminating ink, PolarTek. The new product is a white ink which can be used over many existing ink systems to deliver very high bond values with all laminating processes, as well as very low retained solvents.

“The white ink often makes the difference between poor bond performance and excellent performance in a laminated structure,” says Susan Kuchta, VP/GM of Flint Group’s North American Packaging business. “Our flexible packaging customers have often commented on the complexity of their operations and the constantly changing structures. We recognized that the industry needed products which have a wide operating window and could be used more universally across the many structures which are common to today’s press rooms. PolarTek fills that need and will reduce the number of white inks a printer will need, resulting in reduced inventory, working capital and less complexity within their operations.”

PolarTek has been beta tested in a number of printing environments and under a variety of conditions. “Its wide operating window makes it press friendly, and customers reported increased opacity, lower doctor blade wear and very good cost of use," says Paul Lodewyck, director of product management at Flint’s Packaging and Narrow Web division. “White ink is sometimes overlooked for its impact on both graphics and performance. But it is the white ink surface which is in contact with the adhesives as well as it's the white ink that often makes up the majority of the ink used in the structure.”